Court of Vice Admiralty, Boston, 20 April 1769

Province of the Massachusetts Bay Court of vice Admty. 20th. April 1769To the Honble. Robert Auchmuty Esqr. Judge <of his Majestys said Court or to his lawfull Deputy> Commissary Deputy and surrogate of the Court of Vice Admiralty of Boston in the Province
of the Massachusetts Bay

John Wentworth Esqr. Surveyor General of all and singular his Majestys Woods on the
Continent of North America shews that on the Twenty fourth day of March last he seized
for his Majestys Use, at the several Places hereafter mentioned in said Province,
the following white pine Logs; vizt at a Place called little Ossipee in the County
of York in said Province Three hundred white Pine Logs from twenty four to fifty four
Inches Diameter, and from Eighteen to Twenty four Feet long; at a Place called Narragansett
in the County of York in said Province Three Logs from twenty five to Thirty Inches
Diameter; at Faybans Mills so called in Scarborough in the County of Cumberland, Three
hundred Logs.

At a Place called Dunstons Landing in Scarborough aforesaid, two Masts, vizt one of
forty Inches Diameter and fifty seven Feet long, another of forty four Inches Diameter
and Eighty seven feet long.

At a Place called Blue Point in Scarborough aforesaid one Mast of forty four Inches
Diameter and Ninty three feet long, one of twenty Eight Inches Diameter and Eighty
Eight feet and an half long; At a Place called Pepperellborough in the County of York
aforesaid one Mast forty two Inches in Diameter and Sixty feet long, one of forty
two Inches in Diameter and Eighty four feet long, one of Thirty Six Inches in Diameter
and Eighty four feet long, one of forty two Inches in Diameter and fifty seven feet
long, one of Thirty Six Inches Diameter and fifty seven feet long. At Narragansett
in the County of York aforesaid Three Logs from twenty five to Thirty Inches Diameter;
All cutt out of Trees growing in this Province, and not in any Township, or within
the Bounds Lines or Limits thereof, or if growing within the Limits of any Town, those
of twenty four Inches Diameter at twelve Inches from the Ground, not growing within
any Soil or Tract of Land granted to any private Person before the Seventh Day of
October Anno Domini 1690, and those under Twenty four Inches Diameter, not being the
Property of any private Person or Persons, and felled by some evil minded Persons
within Six Months last past, without his Majestys royal Licence first had and obtained;
and by them removed to the aforesaid Places, contrary to the Laws in that Case made
and provided.2

Wherefore as this matter is within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court the said
John Wentworth prays sentence for the Forfeiture of said Logs to his Majestys Use,
agreable to Law.

1. Copy in JA's hand. Adams Papers, Microfilms, Reel No. 185. Docketed by JA: “Wentworth vs. Logs. Form.” The caption of the document indicates that Auchmuty
sat on the case in his capacity as Judge of the Massachusetts provincial court, rather
than as Judge of the new district court to which he was appointed in the fall of 1768.
See No. 46, notes 41–43; p. 102, note 16, above. Compare Ubbelohde, Vice Admiralty Courts 148–155.

2. For the statutes, the requirements of which are neatly summarized in the foregoing
sentence, see No. 55, notes 6–932–35, 12–1738–43.